'I Style People In My Community For Free—To Help Them Feel Seen'
Chi Ilochi
On 3/8/21 at 12:52 PM EST
When I was around seven years old my mom bought me a color block sweater from JCPenney. I don't know what it was about that sweater, because I was a shy kid in general, but I loved it. I felt like that sweater was me; it showed who I was on the inside.
Growing up, I didn't want to accept my Nigerian heritage because it didn't feel like it was cool back then. My father is Nigerian and so my mom would show up to parent-teacher conferences or pick me up from school in traditional Nigerian colors and fabrics. At the time, I wished she would just stop, but now those colors, prints and fabrics are in every element of my style. I'm thankful in hindsight that she did that, because it taught me to embrace who I am.